Vince Mendoza

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Program:

Jazz Studies

Division:

Contemporary Music

Expertise:

Composition

Biography

Vince Mendoza has been at the forefront of the jazz and contemporary music scene as a composer, conductor and recording artist for the last 20 years. According to All about Jazz, Mendoza “daringly expands the vernacular by including elements of abstract impressionism, romanticism and a highly unorthodox palette to position him as the clear and natural successor to the late Gil Evans.” He has written scores of compositions and arrangements for big band, extended compositions for chamber and symphonic settings while his jazz composing credits read like a who’s who of the best modern instrumentalists and singers in the world today.

Mendoza was recognized as “Best Composer/Arranger” by Swing Journal’s critics poll in Japan. His CD Epiphany features his compositions played by the London Symphony Orchestra. El Viento and Jazzpaña further pushed the boundaries of jazz and flamenco music. His new album, Nights on Earth, features Mendoza compositions arranged for small and large ensembles, with guest appearances by Luciana Souza, Malian vocalist Tom Diakite, and musicians from Spain, Africa, and Brazil.

Mendoza’s arranging has appeared on many critically acclaimed projects that include dozens of albums with song writing legends such as Stevie Wonder, Björk, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, Melody Gardot, Sting and Joni Mitchell. He has 6 GRAMMY awards and 25 nominations.

Mendoza is the Conductor Laureate and artistic advisor of the Netherlands Metropole Orkest. He appears frequently as a guest conductor with orchestras throughout Europe, the U.S., Japan, Scandinavia, and the U.K.

Mendoza has also written commissioned compositions and arrangements for the Turtle Island String Quartet, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, the Metropole Orkest, the Berlin Philharmonic, West Deutsche Rundfunk and the BBC. His music was featured at the Berlin Jazz Festival. He has performed at the Montreux, Monterey, and North Sea Jazz Festivals.